Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)

What is AD/HD?

AD/HD interferes with a person’s ability to sustain attention or focus on a task as well as to control impulsive behaviour.

Distractibility/Inattention involves supersensitivity and limited ability to tune out internal and environmental stimuli. Distracted students have poor short-term memory (forgetting instructions), have trouble keeping track of their belongings and have difficulties with organizing or concentrating on a task. May appear “lazy” or daydreaming.

Impulsivity involves a lack of restraint and students will typically act without thinking about consequences. The immediate satisfaction of their needs results in judgment errors. These students know the rules but can’t think before they act and therefore have trouble learning from their experiences. They often have trouble with friends/peers and react to stress with aggressive behaviour.

Hyperactivity is a third area of behaviour used to identify AD/HD. These students are constantly restless and moving in the classroom. They start tasks but are often unable to complete them due to boredom, too much energy or what appears to be a lack of motivation.

Affects 3-5% of school age students, boys 2-4 times more often affected than girls.

It is a medical condition that differs from LD. About 30-40% of people with LD also have AD/HD.